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 Volume 15, Issue 2 September 2024 educate.iowa.gov
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The State Park and Institutional Roads Program provides funding to construct, reconstruct, improve and maintain roadways, including bridges, within the boundaries of state-owned lands or community college property. Sixty-five one-hundredths of one percent of the Road Use Tax Fund is allocated to maintain and improve the State Park and Institutional Roads system.
The Park and Institutional Roads System has more than 600 miles of roadways. State agencies participating in the program are the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC), the Iowa Department of Education (DOE), the State Fair Board, the Department of Human Services (DHS), the National Guard of Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Board of Regents and Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Capitol Complex.
In the spring of 2024, with guidance from IDOT, the Iowa Department of Education solicited proposals from Iowa’s 15 community colleges to be funded. Upon receipt of the projects submitted by the community colleges, the proposals were reviewed by a committee within the Department.
Proposals awarded for calendar year 2029:
Indian Hills Community College
Award amount: $175,000
Project: The reconstruction of the primary interior curve roadway on the main campus.
Southeastern Community College
Award amount: $175,000
Project: Repair a primary roadway through the middle of the Southeastern Community College—West Burlington Campus.
Eastern Iowa Community College
Award amount: $250,000
Project: Repairs and upgrades to Belmont Road that serves the Scott Community College Campus (EICC) and Pleasant Valley School High School & Administration Center.
Another application round for Calendar Year (CY) 2030 will begin on November 1, 2024, and end on January 31, 2025.
For more information, please contact Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness Education Program Consultant Dr. Jeff Fletcher at 515-321-7309 or at jeffrey.fletcher@iowa.gov.
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The State Board of Education (SBOE) has begun reviewing Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 21, related to the state's community college accreditation processes. Department staff presented four potential accreditation improvement areas to the SBOE at its September meeting, including emphasizing student outcomes and institutional effectiveness, leveraging state data systems to identify benchmarks, making meaningful process differentiations based on compliance and outcomes, and maintaining assurance components currently present in state accreditation.
The Accreditation Advisory Committee (AAC), composed of one representative from each community college, includes a broad range of positions at the college including, presidents, chief academic officers, finance and human resources, student services, and faculty. The ACC will meet on October 25 to begin discussing drafted changes. Other stakeholder groups, including the community college presidents and the Community College Advisory Committee (SBOE subcommittee), will also provide review and feedback through the winter. It is expected that final changes will be proposed to the SBOE in February for implementation during AY26.
Questions can be directed to Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness Bureau Chief Amy Gieseke at amy.gieseke@iowa.gov.
A handful of Iowa's Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) have announced a series of conferences, workshops, events and trainings taking place this fall across the state.
Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) hosts a pair of Fall Rallies Oct. 2 and 9 in Fort Dodge and Cedar Rapids, respectively. Iowa Central Community College hosts the Fort Dodge rally, while Kirkwood Community College hosts the Cedar Rapids event. With hundreds anticipated to attend, both feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions and competitive events.
The Technology Student Association (TSA) hosts its Fall Leadership Conference Oct. 7 at Camp Mitigwa in Boone. The leadership training event expects to host nearly 100 high school and middle school TSA members.
The Iowa Future Business Leaders Association has two events slated for late October with its State Fall Leadership Conference Oct. 20 in Des Moines and the National Career Connections Conference Oct. 24 in Des Moines. The State Fall Leadership Conference is an opportunity for high school and middle school students to participate in motivational general sessions, professional development workshops, and networking with like-minded students from around the state. The National Career Connections Conference focuses on connecting talented students with leading employers.
SkillsUSA Iowa continues October events with its Fall Leaderships & Skills Conference Oct. 28-29 in Boone. The two-day event allows students to master working as a team over two dynamic days alongside social experiences and industry experiences.
Meanwhile, DECA closes October with its Fall Leadership Conference Oct. 29-30 at Iowa State University as members from across Iowa gather for innovative workshops, presentations, and professional networking.
FFA events resume in November with its annual Ignite, Amplify and Transform Conferences at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny Nov. 9. Due to the popularity of the event and more than 600 total attendees expected, a second session will be offered Dec. 7.
These Career and Technical Student Organizations provide opportunities to develop and refine the skills students need in their chosen occupational area. Conferences, competitions, workshops, community service and other activities encourage leadership development and career exploration. For more information on Iowa's CTSOs, contact Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness Career and Technical Education Consultant Cale Hutchings.
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The Iowa Department of Education is accepting applications for the Career Academy Incentive Fund for the 2024-25 academic year through Nov. 15, 2024.
The Career Academy Incentive Fund provides targeted grants to support partnerships between school districts and community colleges that expand access to career academy programs, with a focus on programming delivered through regional centers. Annually, the Iowa Department of Education awards up to $5 million in grants for projects that best meet the criteria specified in statute. The number of grants issued is based on the amount of available funds and types of applications received.
Applications must include one school district and one community college. Proposals for new career academies delivered collaboratively between multiple school districts and a community college through a regional center will receive priority consideration.
For more information on the Career Academy Incentive Fund, contact Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness Administrative Consultant Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or 515-326-5378.
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The Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness and Division of Higher Education are growing! Help us welcome our newest team members who will be leading our state efforts with community colleges and career and technical education.
- Marhonda Hill joined the Department as a Secretary 2 for Community Colleges with the OWI program. Hill has more than 20 years of experience in previous roles with the Iowa Department of Human Services and Iowa Workforce Development. Hill, a graduate of Grand Canyon University, also has experience as a special education teacher and special education associate in the Des Moines Public Schools.
- Derreck Calkins joined the Department as an Education Program Consultant for Program Quality and Faculty Support. He has 15 years of teaching and administrative experience at the four-year and community college level. During the last five years, he filled several administrative positions at Southeastern Community College, most recently serving as the Interim Dean for Career and Technical Education. Before relocating to Iowa he taught and worked at Georgia Southern University and the University of Nevada, Reno. Derreck holds a B.A. in history from Weber State University, an M.A. in History from Georgia Southern University, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Welcome aboard to our newest team members!
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Iowa Department of Education
400 E 14th Street
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Ph: 515-281-5294
www.educateiowa.gov
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